Modern ”Whole Body Cryo Therapy” (WCT), also referred to as ”Air Cryo Therapy” (ACT)and “Cryosauna,” is rooted in the practice of Dr Yamaguchi of Japan who, in 1978, started using freezing treatments of short duration on his rheumatoid arthritis patients’ skin surface for pain management purposes. With these cryo-procedures, Dr. Yamaguchi found he could significantly reduce the soreness and pain his patients usually felt during manipulation of their joints because the rapid decrease of temperature of the outer layer of skin led to the immediate release of endorphins and therefore less sensitivity to pain.

In the 1980s, while continuing his research, now on the effects of Whole Body Cryotherapy, Dr Yamaguchi and his associates came to this conclusion: that rapid short-term freezing of up to -180C while inside the cryo-chamber has a more beneficial effect on the human body than its gradual cooling while immersed in an ice bath, where the lowest temperature possible is 5oC/41oF.

As a result of thorough and sustained research, Dr. Yamaguchi further formulated that Whole Body Cryotherapy (WCT) affects the body on three different levels:

Our CRYO T device working with temperatures of up to minus -180C, something you’ve never seen before. It is actually those very low temperatures that yield the incredible instant results.

These treatments are huge in the States, Middle East, and Europe and have now arrived in the UK. They are widely used by Hollywood Celebrities and are called a ‘Red Carpet’ treatments amongst themselves. To name but a few Demi Moor, Jessica Alba, and Jennifer Aniston.

The rapid decrease in temperature to the outer skin tricks the brain into releasing endorphins, which act as a form of natural pain relief. Cryostimulation can be used to treat problems such as chronic back pain and arthritis, with the results lasting for several months.

Cryostimulation has also been found to have positive effects on other health concerns, such as migraines and sinus problems. Because of the way it affects the blood flow in the area that’s being treated, it has a positive impact throughout that area of the body; not just the upper layers of skin and fatty tissue. Some of the patients, who have been having the treatment to help them lose weight from their stomach, have found that it has also improved their IBS and digestion problems like bloating and constipation. While we can’t guarantee that the treatment will “cure” health complaints, it’s exciting for us that while we are treating our patients’ external problems, we could also be helping them internally at the same time

Emotional pain not only causes stress and depression but also physical pain. When people feel emotional pain the brain activates the same area of the brain as physical pain the anterior insula and the anterior cingulate cortex to be exact.

If you think of it this way it makes senses, how many times have you stubbed your toe or stood on a plug and felt physical pain and anger at the same time? with the physical pain, you know exactly where the pain hurts as the neural, blood and immune pathways between the brain and body are tagged with body location information beginning in the spinal cord and with successively more specific tagging up through the brain stem and thalamus.

This communication lets you know exactly where the pain is so it’s natural to conclude emotional pain must have a physical location and all emotions have a trigger point. These micro-momentary muscular activations begin the premotor area, which is responsible for forming an emotional expression in the body.

The nervous system is an elaborate network of cells that facilitates communication between our brains and the rest of our bodies, directly links our physical selves to our emotional life. Voluntary muscles, involuntary muscles, and our five senses can be influenced by our emotional responses of our bodies so we can manifest a nearly infinite variety of physical responses to stress.

Emotional factors can contribute to or cause a range of physical conditions. As an example have you ever had someone sound you out and hurt your feelings but instead of screaming in their faces, you said nothing at all. You might be holding on to some residual muscle tension in your neck, throat or jaw (holding back your scream).

Anxiety can trigger activation in any of these muscles triggering a huge variety of physical responses as shown in the emotional and physical pain chart below…

Our emotions can have a direct impact on our health if you have been suffering from chronic pain for a long time and nothing the doctors prescribes helps you then your pain might be psychosomatic and seeing a psychotherapist to rule out emotional factors earlier in the diagnostic process can save money and heartache, which is especially important because the emotional upset associated with failed medical procedures and treatments can cause symptoms to worsen.

How Psychotherapy Can Help with Chronic Pain

People with chronic pain may sometimes resist exploring the possibility that their pain has an emotional root, perhaps out of fear of being accused of inventing the symptoms or causing them on purpose. However, individuals with SSD or emotionally rooted chronic pain do experience real pain, a fact that therapists and medical providers generally accept. Reluctance to admit to the emotional roots of pain may also stem from the belief that emotion-based chronic pain is less likely to have a medical cure. In addition, the prospect of confronting the deeper emotions that may be causing the pain can seem like a daunting task.

However, confronting those emotions and achieving catharsis—a release of pent-up emotions—may provide both short- and long-term relief. Relief may not be permanent, though, as emotions held for a long time in the body can transform to primarily physical symptoms, and they may not be relieved by an emotional release in all cases. In this case, therapy may be more effective when combined with another form of treatment.

Biofeedback is a form of therapy that can be useful in learning to identify the ways the body experiences pain. Understanding the body’s response can help a person develop ways to manage and relieve pain. Therapy can help individuals remain hopeful, and it can be an effective treatment to supplement any prescribed medications. Relaxation therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy have both been shown to be effective at treating people who live with chronic pain.

Alternative Therapies For Psychosomatic Pain

The Common Alternative Therapies For Psychosomatic Pain Are:

Relaxation Technique To Help Overcome Psychosomatic Pain: The various relaxation techniques like guided imagery, progressive muscle relaxation technique etc. helps in relieving the physical and mental stress and relaxes the mind and body. Progressive muscle relaxation technique could be very good for people with body pain as it focuses on contracting a muscle followed by releasing the muscle tension thus easing out the pain to a great extent.

Hypnosis To Treat Somatoform Disorders: It focuses on resolving the underlying unconscious drives, desires or wishes which is manifesting itself in the form of a somatic symptom. Though there have been a lot of controversies in the technique of hypnosis as a therapy, it has been found to be very useful in treating cases of somatoform disorders.

Massage: Various massage techniques have been found to give some relief to patients with psychosomatic pain or pain disorders. The forms include chiropractic massage, shiatsu, etc.

Art Therapies:Art therapies focus on the expression of emotion using different art techniques like music, painting, dance, etc. A body-oriented art therapy is found to do wonders in the treatment of psychosomatic pain disorder. Dance therapy can be of great use since it allows expression of emotion, often conflicting ones, and also the movement helps in relieving pain.

Suffering from a psychosomatic pain might be very difficult to explain or communicate to people as there isn’t any physical cause and other might think that the patient is faking. Many a time wrong diagnosis happens due to lack of awareness. Thus a proper guidance from an experienced physician who has treated psychosomatic pain earlier is very important.

Indian Head massage, also known as Champissage, has been practised in India for over 1,000 years. It is a form of relaxation massage that focuses on the head, neck, face, shoulders and upper arms, which are important energy centres in the body where tension can accumulate, resulting in headaches as well as neck, shoulder and back problems. This form of massage combines physical massage with a more subtle form of energy work. This affects the recipient in a more profound and holistic way, bringing the energy of the whole body back into balance creating a deep sense of peace, calm and well-being.
Indian Head Massage helps increase mobility and flexibility in the neck and shoulders. It improves blood circulation, lymphatic flow and aids elimination of toxins and is particularly good for reducing the effects of stress and tension.

By concentrating on the areas most vulnerable to stress and tension, Indian Head Massage will help the body to release stress, relieve tension and encourage the flow of the blood which will re-energize every part of the body. The results are felt on a mental, physical and spiritual level.

The head neck and shoulders are very important energy centres within your body. If you are feeling stressed or angry, tension tends to accumulate here. This tension can later show up as a stiff neck and shoulders, eyestrain and sometimes even hair loss. Indian head massage involves working with a firm gentle rhythm to help clear blockages and release uncomfortable knots and the build up of tension.

How does an Indian Head Massage treatment work?

The aim of an Indian head massage is to release the stress that has accumulated in the tissues, muscles and joints of the head, face, neck and shoulders. An Indian Head Massage works with the Ayurvedic concept, which, goes beyond the limits of healing and places emphasis on balance. Working on the chakras has a powerful effect and can bring the energy of the whole body back into balance.

Indian Head Massage involves massage and acupressure techniques manipulating the soft tissues on the upper back, shoulders, neck, scalp and face. The effect is not just physical: it works on an emotional level too, calming the mind, promoting relaxation and relieving stress.
Massaging the scalp, face, neck and shoulders relieves eyestrain, improves concentration, eliminates muscular tension and restores joint movement.

Indian head massage relieves the buildup of tension, and also has an emotional effect; calming the person, promoting relaxation and relieving stress.

Circulation is improved as the massage increases blood flow; this brings nutrients and oxygen to the head and neck area, improving brain function and other organs in this area. Thinking and concentration can become clearer. The increased blood flow also means that there is an increase in toxins being picked up and removed.

Lymphatic drainage is increased, stimulating a healthier immune system and the removal of toxins. Sinuses are drained more expediently through the increased blood and lymph flow.

All organs and endocrine glands in the head and neck benefit and there is a subsequent cascade of benefit in the rest of the body as all endocrine glands elsewhere respond to the improved function of those in the head and neck.

Massaging the head encourages the supply of oxygen to the brain, which is one of the best ways of reducing stress. Oxygen helps you think clearly and creatively, the same effect is brought about through exercising.

Indian Head Massage attacks stress in an immediate way by accessing the physical effects. It also aids better relaxation and sleep, the lack of which is often a strong component in stress-related illness, which can lead to a more serious mental breakdown. The relaxation opposes the stress response and helps re-balance the process.

By working on Stress, Indian Head Massage has the effect of slowing down behaviour. Time becomes less important for the duration of the massage as sensual awareness takes over. Afterwards, a feeling of being less hurried allows the individual to be less compulsive and more considerate in their outlook. Thoughts quieten and awareness is brought to the forefront.

What are the benefits of Indian Head Massage?
The therapeutic effects and benefits of Indian Head Massage last long after the treatment is finished. Remember, the more treatments you have, the more these benefits will tend to linger. There is a cumulative effect. Here are some of the very good reasons why IHM is so popular in our stressed out world.

It can relieve eyestrain and headaches

You should see improvement in the circulatory system

There is often a reduction in lymphoedema in the head and neck

Many people report an improvement in concentration

You will feel variously relaxed or stimulated depending on the techniques used

You will receive much-needed relief from muscular tension

An increased oxygen and glucose supply to the brain

It easily relieves much physical and mental fatigue

You will find relief from stiffness in your neck and shoulders

Stress just melts away

You should see a marked improvement in the symptoms of headaches, insomnia and sinusitis

Joint mobility and flexibility increase

Blood circulation and lymphatic flow increase their cleansing effect

(continued) Accumulated toxins and metabolic waste are more easily eliminated

Knots and adhesions in muscles are dissolved and removed

Better lymph drainage supports the immune system

Cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) circulation increases

You should feel a sense of renewed energy

This treatment is tailored to whatever you need at the time, making it an ideal massage/healing combination to alleviate these problems and to produce lasting effects on health, and value in general well-being. By soothing away any stress and tension, and leaving you relaxed, revitalised and re-energised, this very popular treatment is perfect for promoting a calm mind, a stress-free body and for maintaining optimum health.